UK surname
A variant spelling of the English surname Birt, derived from a pet form of Bertram or Robert.
In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Birth surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #23,220 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birth is 264 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.3%.
1881 census count
73
Ranked #23,220
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1861
264 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Birth surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Birth surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 264 | #9,385 |
| 1881 | historical | 73 | #23,220 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 68 | #26,598 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 30 | #35,661 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St James and St Paul, St Philip and Jacob, Manchester and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dean | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Birth surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Birth, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Birth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Birth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Birth is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Birth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Birth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Birth" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "burth," meaning a landed estate or a small village. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in or was associated with a particular estate or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where a certain John Birth is mentioned. Another early reference appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, from the year 1379, which lists a William de Birth among the tenants.
In the 15th century, the name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire, with various records mentioning individuals such as Thomas Birth (born around 1420) and Richard Birth (born circa 1450) from these regions.
The surname "Birth" may also have been influenced by certain place names, such as the village of Birch in Staffordshire or the town of Birchover in Derbyshire. It is possible that the name evolved from these locations, with variations in spelling occurring over time.
Notably, a prominent figure bearing the surname "Birth" was Sir John Birth (1452-1518), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Worcestershire. He served as the Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1487 and was known for his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a grammar school in the town of Bromsgrove.
Another notable individual was William Birth (1563-1624), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire. He published several religious works during his lifetime, including a commentary on the Book of Psalms.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, with individuals such as Thomas Birth (born 1612) from Oxfordshire and Margaret Birth (born 1658) from Gloucestershire being mentioned.
As the surname spread further, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles, with records indicating the presence of families bearing the name "Birth" in Scotland and Ireland by the 18th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birth surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 32 Births recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 32 | 22.61x |
| Somerset | 11 | 9.47x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.25x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.70x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.62x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 7.15x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.14x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.47x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Augustine in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Births recorded in 1881 and an index of 921.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St Augustine | 21 | 921.05x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 6 | 45.05x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 5 | 105.93x |
| Stretford | 5 | 106.16x |
| Walcot | 5 | 80.78x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 8.68x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 4 | 98.04x |
| West Greenock | 4 | 39.84x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 45.51x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 9.20x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.99x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 2 | 65.79x |
| Wells St Cuthbert Out | 2 | 212.77x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.65x |
| Brompton Ralph | 1 | 1000.00x |
| East Kilbride | 1 | 100.00x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 8.95x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.60x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 1 | 28.25x |
| Taunton St Mary | 1 | 46.95x |
| Whitworth | 1 | 63.69x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Birth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Birth surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Birth households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| None | 4 |
| Clerk Commercial | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Apprentice Dress Maker | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cotton Doffer | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Gas Stoker | 1 |
| Housekeeper Dom | 1 |
| Lamptrimmer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Leather Merchant (Currier) | 1 |
| Manager Of Canal Carriers | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Master Mason | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Naval Pensioner Port... | 1 |
| Packer (Drugs) | 1 |
| Packer Of Drugs | 1 |
| Retired Mason | 1 |
| Schoolar | 1 |
| Seaman R Navy | 1 |
| Servant General | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailor & Draper | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Birth surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Birth a modern rank of #34,562.
A variant spelling of the English surname Birt, derived from a pet form of Bertram or Robert.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Birth bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.